Poker Rake Calculator

Rake is the fee charged by poker rooms on every cash game pot. It's the primary way poker sites and casinos generate revenue. In most online games, the standard rake is 5% of the pot, subject to a cap that limits the maximum amount taken per hand. The cap varies by stakes level and by site, which is why comparing rake across sites matters.

For recreational players, rake might seem like a small cost per hand. But over thousands of hands, it compounds into a significant expense. Professional and semi-professional grinders who multi-table can pay thousands of dollars per month in rake alone. Understanding and minimizing rake is one of the most impactful things you can do for your bottom line.

In cash games, the site takes a percentage of each pot after the hand completes. The typical structure is 5% of the pot up to a cap. For example, at NL100 ($0.50/$1 blinds), if the pot reaches $40, the 5% rake would be $2.00. If the cap at that stakes level is $2.00, exactly $2.00 is taken. If the pot were $60, the rake would still be $2.00 because the cap prevents it from going higher.

No flop, no drop is a common rule — if the hand ends preflop (everyone folds to a raise), no rake is taken. This means tighter games with more preflop folding generate less rake per hour. The calculator above assumes an average pot of 12 big blinds, which is typical for full-ring online cash games where most pots see a flop.

1. Choose the right site — Rake caps vary dramatically between sites. ACR's flat $3 cap is unbeatable at NL200+ but expensive at micros. ClubWPT Gold charges only 4% rake (vs. 5% elsewhere). At NL100, caps range from $2.50 (PokerStars) to $5.00 (GGPoker). Over thousands of hands, this compounds significantly. Use the calculator above to find the best site for your specific stakes.

2. Maximize rakeback — Most sites offer loyalty programs or direct rakeback deals that return a portion of your rake. Some sites offer 25-36% direct rakeback, while others use tiered systems where higher volume earns better rates. Always factor in rakeback when comparing sites — a site with higher rake but better rakeback may cost less overall.

3. Play the right stakes — Rake has a proportionally larger impact at micro stakes. At NL2, even a $0.20-$0.30 cap can be 10+ big blinds — a massive percentage of a typical pot. As you move up in stakes, the rake-to-pot ratio generally improves. If you can comfortably beat NL25, you'll pay less rake relative to your win rate than grinding NL5.

4. Tighten up your game — Since most sites follow a "no flop, no drop" rule, hands that end preflop don't generate rake. A tighter preflop strategy means fewer pots played and less rake paid per hour. This doesn't mean you should play too tight — but eliminating marginal hands from your range reduces rake exposure.

Rakeback programs return a percentage of the rake you pay back to your account. There are two main models:

Direct rakeback returns a fixed percentage of your rake. For example, if you pay $500 in rake and have a 30% rakeback deal, you receive $150 back. This model is straightforward and predictable.

Points-based loyalty programs award points proportional to your rake contribution, which you can redeem for cash or bonuses. The effective rakeback rate depends on your tier and redemption choices. Higher-volume players typically unlock better tiers with higher effective rakeback percentages.

GGPoker offers the Fish Buffet program with tiered daily rakeback. PokerStars uses Stars Rewards with randomized chests. Global Poker offers a flat 30% rakeback through their Vault program. ACR and Ignition offer points systems with various redemption options. When choosing a site, calculate your expected effective rakeback rate based on your volume and compare the net rake cost.